Brenda S. Thomas348 Thomas Lane, Jersey Shore, PA 17740 / H: 570.745.3470/ C: 570.916.1199/ brenda.thomas@bucknell.edu

SUMMARYExperienced grants administrator offering a wealth of knowledge in sponsored research administration: sub-awards and contracts, prospect research, proposal preparation, grants/project management, reporting and stewardship, as well as counseling and editing for faculty and staff grant writers.

HIGHLIGHTS Grant writing, editing, & administration Prospect research communication with funding agencies

(public and private) Negotiating, monitoring sub awards &

contracts

Organizing site visits Conducting proposal writing workshops Program planning and implementation Public relations Creating newsletters and marketing

materials

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Secured and/or assisted in obtaining grants at local, regional, state and federal levels. Streamlined tools for delivering funding search results to faculty and staff thereby improving

communication and efficiency. Received state, national, and international recognition for programs under my directorship. Served as an evaluator for numerous grant review panels (local, regional, state levels). Experience as both grants administrator/program officer and grant writer/seeker.

EXPERIENCE8/2011 – Current Associate Director, Office of Sponsored Projects

Bucknell University – Lewisburg, PA Responsible for securing external funding for faculty research and projects, campus

initiatives and programs; organizing site visits for corporate and foundation program officers; administration of sub awards and contracts. Experience with all aspects of a

Life-cycle grants office.

Duties include: grant writing, editing, and administration; serving as liaison between public and private funding agencies and university faculty; prospect research and

faculty funding searches; negotiating sub awards and contracts; conducting proposal writingworkshops for faculty and staff, reporting and stewardship.

6/2002 – 8/2011 Arts in Education DirectorBradford County Regional Arts Council – Towanda, PAResponsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the PA Council on the Arts' partnership initiatives: PA Partners in the Arts (re-granting) and the Arts in Education Program (artist residency grants). Duties included: grant writing and grants administration, grant counseling for artists, arts organization staff, and community members seeking grant funds; creating application forms, program evaluation forms; promoting artists and projects; writing newsletters and designing promotional materials.

5/1999 – 6/2002 Executive DirectorWilliamsport-Lycoming Arts Council – Williamsport, PAResponsible for the day-to-day operations of the Arts Council: marketing, public

relations, membership and patron development/retention, organization and motivation of community enrichment committees, creation and production of a monthly newsletter. Additional duties included: management of support staff, serving as program director for several re-granting programs, arts in education programs, and project director for the Susquehanna Valley Festival of the Arts.

5/2000 – 6/2000 InstructorLackawanna Junior College – Towanda, PA Instructor for Art 103, a survey level art history course for undergraduate students.

Duties included lesson planning and presentation, counseling of students, exam preparation and grading.

8/1997 – 8/1999 OperatorAT&T – Williamsport, PA Toll-free directory operator. Worked nights while attending graduate school.

Responsible for providing customers with toll-free listings.

8/1997 – 5/1999 Teaching AssistantPennsylvania State University – State College, PATeaching assistant while attending graduate school; duties included lesson preparation,

teaching survey level courses, student counseling, grading exams, slide room work (slide prep, cataloging, filing).

7/1992 – 7/1997 Swing Shift ManagerMcDonald’s Corporation – South Williamsport, PAResponsible for managing crew, supervision of the restaurant, opening and closing the

restaurant, calculating daily deposits, estimating monthly sales to order appropriate product. Part-time employment (30-35 hours/week) while pursuing BA degree.

EDUCATIONCurrent MS Program: Research Administration

Emmanuel College – Boston, MACurrently enrolled in Emmanuel’s on-line MSRA program

1999 MA Program: Art HistoryPennsylvania State University – State College, PACompleted course work toward MA in Art History with minor in Women's Studies. MA Thesis incomplete - family circumstances necessitated full time employment.

1995 BA Program: Art HistoryLycoming College – Williamsport, PA Graduated Magna Cum Laude with departmental honors

1992 BA Program: Art HistoryJuniata College – Huntingdon, PA

Completed freshman year; transferred to Lycoming College

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT2011 – Present SCAFRO

Annual meetings Regional meetings Presenter at 2012 workshop for Corporate Relationships Active member on list-serve

2014 – Present National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Annual meetings Sub Award workshops Sub Award online course

2014 – Present Colleges of Liberal Arts Sponsored Programs (CLASP) Annual meetings Active member on list-serve

COMMUNITY SERVICE2011 – Present Bucknell University

o BE Well – health & wellness planning committeeo DAR SERVE – Development & Alumni Relations committee for professional

development, community service & engagement, networking (chair for one year)o Advocate for Bucknell’s Women’s Resource Center - Sexual Assault &

misconduct hotlineo Women at Bucknell – advocacy group to address women’s issues on campuso Mentor for new staffo Grant review panelist – First Community Foundation

2001 – 2011 Bradford County Regional Arts Councilo Judge for multiple Art Showso Grant review panelist (PA Council on the Arts; PA Humanities Council)o Mentor/advisor for student interns

Personalo PTOo Coach/assistant coach for little league softballo Assistant coach for travel softball team

REFERENCESCarmen GillespieProfessor of EnglishBucknell UniversityOne Dent DriveLewisburg, PA 17837570.577.2123Carmen.gillespie@bucknell.edu

Karl Voss, Assoc. Dean of Faculty & Interim Exec. Director for OSPOne Dent Drive Lewisburg, PA 17837570-577-3293Karl.voss@bucknell.edu

Dorothy Johnson, CRA, CFRA, CPAAccounting Manager – grantsBucknell UniversityOne Dent Drive Lewisburg, PA 17837570-577-1691Dorothy.johnson@bucknell.edu